Sam Anderson

In Bristol, a writer declared that the solution was vigilante violence, a trusty weapon in every house, they wrote, and a disposition to use it on very slight provocation. Eventually, Connecticut passed a strict anti-tramp law mandating the appointment of special constables to hunt vagrants down, promising $5 bounties for warrantless arrests resulting in conviction.

In Bristol, a writer declared that the solution was vigilante violence, a trusty weapon in every house, they wrote, and a disposition to use it on very slight provocation. Eventually, Connecticut passed a strict anti-tramp law mandating the appointment of special constables to hunt vagrants down, promising $5 bounties for warrantless arrests resulting in conviction.

In this atmosphere, even the old leather man was suspect. Early in his wanderings, people locked their doors when he passed. Mothers used him as a kind of boogeyman to make their children behave. But although he looked terrifying, people quickly came to understand that he was harmless. He never stole, never created chaos, never accosted anyone.

In this atmosphere, even the old leather man was suspect. Early in his wanderings, people locked their doors when he passed. Mothers used him as a kind of boogeyman to make their children behave. But although he looked terrifying, people quickly came to understand that he was harmless. He never stole, never created chaos, never accosted anyone.

Even when he was actively harassed, when a group of children surrounded him in the street shouting insults, or when two rowdy men bullied him, forcing him to drink alcohol, the old Leatherman didn't fight back. He just got away as quickly as he could. He was quiet and inoffensive, said a man who saw him regularly near Waterbury.

Even when he was actively harassed, when a group of children surrounded him in the street shouting insults, or when two rowdy men bullied him, forcing him to drink alcohol, the old Leatherman didn't fight back. He just got away as quickly as he could. He was quiet and inoffensive, said a man who saw him regularly near Waterbury.

And when a person came along driving a lively horse, he would get out of the way so that his odd appearance might not frighten the horse. Soon, all across old Leatherman territory, a communal instinct kicked in. Residents didn't just tolerate him. They protected him. They took pride in his visits. They made special food to prepare for his arrival.

And when a person came along driving a lively horse, he would get out of the way so that his odd appearance might not frighten the horse. Soon, all across old Leatherman territory, a communal instinct kicked in. Residents didn't just tolerate him. They protected him. They took pride in his visits. They made special food to prepare for his arrival.

Mothers scolded children for staring at him in the street. One boy, out for a hike, found an old Leatherman cave unoccupied and used the wood inside to make a fire. When he got home, his mother made him go back in the dark to replenish the wood. She didn't want the old Leatherman to get cold.

Mothers scolded children for staring at him in the street. One boy, out for a hike, found an old Leatherman cave unoccupied and used the wood inside to make a fire. When he got home, his mother made him go back in the dark to replenish the wood. She didn't want the old Leatherman to get cold.

The townspeople regarded the old Leatherman with a mix of closeness and distance, familiarity and alienation. He was the insider's outsider. He didn't belong, but he was accepted. Wherever he went, he created a circle of civility. His loop tied together otherwise disparate communities, like beads on a string. The tramp laws, curiously, didn't seem to apply to him.

The townspeople regarded the old Leatherman with a mix of closeness and distance, familiarity and alienation. He was the insider's outsider. He didn't belong, but he was accepted. Wherever he went, he created a circle of civility. His loop tied together otherwise disparate communities, like beads on a string. The tramp laws, curiously, didn't seem to apply to him.

By tramping so openly, he seemed to transcend the category. He was his own special category. He was the Old Leather Man. Maybe my favorite incident in the Old Leather Man story happened in a small town called Shrub Oak. He had multiple admirers there. One family, the Ireland's, kept a special bowl and spoon just to feed him.

By tramping so openly, he seemed to transcend the category. He was his own special category. He was the Old Leather Man. Maybe my favorite incident in the Old Leather Man story happened in a small town called Shrub Oak. He had multiple admirers there. One family, the Ireland's, kept a special bowl and spoon just to feed him.

Down the street at Darrow's grocery store, the owner kept notes in his account book about the old Leatherman's trips through town. In February 1885, when the old Leatherman didn't show up on schedule, the people of Shrub Oak were worried. The weather had been terrible. Weeks of sub-freezing temperatures. Brutal rain. A group went out to check his cave in the woods near the ruins of a sawmill.

Down the street at Darrow's grocery store, the owner kept notes in his account book about the old Leatherman's trips through town. In February 1885, when the old Leatherman didn't show up on schedule, the people of Shrub Oak were worried. The weather had been terrible. Weeks of sub-freezing temperatures. Brutal rain. A group went out to check his cave in the woods near the ruins of a sawmill.

It was empty. So it was a relief when on Thursday, February 19th, Darrow, standing in his store, saw the old leather man clomping up the street. He was several days late and seemed to be in a hurry, trying to make up for lost time. Darrow called out. He motioned to the old leatherman to come inside, and against all odds, for reasons no one could fathom, the old leatherman did.

It was empty. So it was a relief when on Thursday, February 19th, Darrow, standing in his store, saw the old leather man clomping up the street. He was several days late and seemed to be in a hurry, trying to make up for lost time. Darrow called out. He motioned to the old leatherman to come inside, and against all odds, for reasons no one could fathom, the old leatherman did.

He sat down next to the fire. Mr. Darrow gave him some cheese and crackers, and as he watched the old leatherman eat, he decided to try something. He took out a pencil and a piece of paper. I am old, Darrow said, and he wrote down his age. Then he passed the paper and pencil to the old leather man. How old are you? he asked.

He sat down next to the fire. Mr. Darrow gave him some cheese and crackers, and as he watched the old leatherman eat, he decided to try something. He took out a pencil and a piece of paper. I am old, Darrow said, and he wrote down his age. Then he passed the paper and pencil to the old leather man. How old are you? he asked.